Vacation in Italy... - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

LoriAnn925 · 10-12-2009, 08:13 AM

So my husband wants to take me on a REAL vacation in June of next year. I have never been out of the country, so we agreed to make it a European vacation. After much deliberation, we have decided that we will be going to Italy. We are planning to be there for two weeks.

He specifically wants to go to Amalfi, I want to go there too. BUT I also want to see as much as I can. Like I said I have NEVER been out of the country, so I know I will want to see and do everything. I have already started making lists and lists of lists.

My husband is thinking of making somewhere in Amalfi our "home base" while we're there and just see what we can from there. But I think we may be better off staying for short periods of time in the region we want to see.

So my question to those of you who have been there. How much can I reasonably see in two weeks while still having a relaxing vacation? Are we better off staying in one area and making trips to the other areas, or is it better to move around?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated!!!

Thanks - Lori

Lana · 10-12-2009, 09:13 AM

First let me say that I'M SOOOOOO JEALOUS!!!!!!!! My husband's family is from Amalfi and we're saving to go hopefully within the next few years. You're going to have such an awesome time. I think 2 wks should be fine. That's all we'd go for.

I think making Amalfi your home base is smart (since that's where you really want to be) and then plan your other areas around that. Amalfi is kind of away from everything else so be wise when making your plans.

We plan on staying there and then going for 2-3 days to other places and just really limiting them to places and things that we really want to see because 2 wks does fly by.

Me, personally, I couldn't move from place to place because packing and unpacking is defintely NOT relaxing for me.

I'm a list freak......so keep writing things down. Have a separate list for questions you need answers to.

Good luck planning and making a decision. Boy I wish I could go now too!

HAVE A GREAT TIME!

LoriAnn925 · 10-12-2009, 10:49 AM

Well, I don't really want to move from place to place, but how can I go to Italy without seeing Rome, or Napes, or Venice? Are they close enough to see while staying in Amalfi?

There is so much I want to see, that I'm not sure what I MUST see, does that make sense? Hence the lists.

I am Queen of Lists. I have lists and lists and lists of lists. lol

pbeck91 · 10-12-2009, 11:16 AM

First of all NO! Almalfi is not close enough to drive and see those things and then drive back. We lived in Sicily for 3yrs and drove all the way up the "boot" to go to Rome. It's a long drive and people drive CRAZY there. What I would do if I were you is plan to stay a few days in each area and work your way around. You can start in Almalfi and work your way up to Naples, Pompeii, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Milan and then over to Venice. Or the opposite way around, however you want to do it. But Italy is a huge country and it really is not feasible to stay in one area and drive around then come "home", if that makes sense. Plus gas is way more expensive than here. They sell it by the liter and it's over a $1 per liter i'm sure. That's my opinion, take it for what it's worth and if you have any questions feel free to ask. I've been to Pisa, Rome, Naples, and Pompeii. We didn't go to Venice because guess what?!?!?! It was too far of a drive from Rome and my husband didn't want to drive it. I knew i'd never get there if we didn't drive so we left Italy without going to Venice. Very sad

pbeck91 · 10-12-2009, 11:18 AM

Also it is VERY hot in June in the southern parts of Italy. So be prepared to sweat!! And make sure when you're making reservations that you have A/C or you'll be miserable. Talking from experience here

LoriAnn925 · 10-12-2009, 12:40 PM

Thanks for the advice. I think that will be the best way to go. Stay around Amalfi for a while, then around rom, or where ever we decide to stay.

I wouldn't have thought to ask. I would have assumed that it was there. My husband would have been MISERABLE without AC.

laurajh · 10-13-2009, 09:03 AM

I'd recommend going with a tour, my mon & I went a few years ago and the tour took us all over the country. The tour bus took us to Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Venice, Siena, Verona, Assisi, Burano, Pisa, Amalfi and Capri. There’s no way we could have covered more than one of two of those cities had we gone on our own. That’s not even all of them, there are a couple cities I can’t even remember now. We went with Trafalgar Tours.

I fell in love with Venice, that was my favorite. We did a gondola ride which was kind of scary because those narrow boats felt like they wanted to tip over when getting in or out (and the waterways of Venice are extremely polluted and smelly so that is water you definitely DON’T want to be falling into).

It’s funny, because when we were there, all you saw on the streets were Smartcars and scooters. My mom and I couldn’t get over how funny those little cars looked, and now we’re starting to see a few of them here. But over there that’s all you see, there’s thousands of them on the road, and they drive like lunatics, especially in Rome!

Kymel · 10-13-2009, 11:19 AM

I have absolutely nothing to contribute, seeing as I've never been out of the country either...barely out of the two states I live on the border of...but just wanted to say that I'm so jealous!!! Hope you guys have a great time though!!! Some day I'll make it there, and to Ireland - which is where I want to go first.

Congrats Lori -you so deserve a good vacation, and I can't think of a better one!

Chrissie23 · 10-13-2009, 11:20 AM

Umm.... I have a question......

can i go?!!?!?

LoriAnn925 · 10-13-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymel

I have absolutely nothing to contribute, seeing as I've never been out of the country either...barely out of the two states I live on the border of...but just wanted to say that I'm so jealous!!! Hope you guys have a great time though!!! Some day I'll make it there, and to Ireland - which is where I want to go first.

Congrats Lori -you so deserve a good vacation, and I can't think of a better one!

Thanks, and it was a BIG debate whether we'd do Italy first or Ireland. But we'll get Ireland next time. Hubby really wants to see Amalfi.